Genetic Links for Individuals with Autism Found

Researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have identified gene mutations, or gene variants, that may raise the risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The newly identified gene variants could account for about 15% of autism diagnoses. Of course having the gene variant does not mean a person will develop autism.

Hakonarson’s study, a cooperative effort among numerous institutions and co-authored by respected autism researchers nationwide, is published online today in the journal Nature, along with two other studies uncovering more clues to autism — one also published in Nature and the other in Annals of Human Genetics.